Type 81 (rocket launcher)

Type 81 rocket launcher[1]
Type Self-propelled rocket launcher
Rocket artillery
Place of origin  People's Republic of China
Production history
Designed 1987
Produced 1989 – present
Specifications
Weight 18 to 30 tons
Length 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Width 3.24 m (10 ft 8 in)
Height 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) with AAMG
Crew 5
Caliber 122 mm (4.8 in) (missiles)
Barrels 40
Traverse 360°
Main
armament
 122 mm rockets
Secondary
armament
 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Engine WR4B-12V150LB 12-cyl diesel
520 hp (382 kW)
Suspension torsion bar
Operational
range
 450 km (280 mi)
Speed 55 km/h (35 mph)

The Type 81 is a self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (SPMRL) produced by the People's Republic of China for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.[2] It is a variant of the Soviet BM-21 Grad.[3] The Type 81 was the first in a family of Chinese self-propelled 122 mm rocket launchers.[2]

The spin-stabilized rocket fired by the Type 81 may be armed with a high explosive warhead or a steel fragmentation warhead.[2]

Variants

Type 81

The Type 81 mounts a 40-round launcher on an OQ261 Honyan 6X6 truck chassis.[2] The Azar variant is used by the Pakistan Army.

Type 83

The Type 83 mounts a 24-round launcher on a 6x6 truck chassis.[2]

Type 89

The Type 89 mounts a 40-round launcher on the armoured tracked chassis of the Type 83 self-propelled gun. The rockets may be fired in 20 seconds. The launcher is mounted at the rear with a reload pack in front.[2]

Type 90

The Type 90 mounts a 40-round launcher on a Tiema SC2030 6X6 truck. The truck also carries a reload pack of 40 additional rockets; the launcher to be reloaded within 3 minutes.[2]

Type 90A

The Type 90A is an upgrade of the Type 90. The 40-round launcher is mounted on a Tienna XC2200 6×6 truck, has improved fire control, and a battery may be remotely controlled by a command vehicle. It is manufactured by Norinco.[4]

Type 90B

The Type 90B is an upgrade of the Type 90A. The 40-round launchers are mounted on a Beifang Benchi 2629 6×6 trucks. The system adds WZ551 reconnaissance vehiclea, and the command vehicle has improved command and fire control systems.[5]

PR50 SPMRL

Latest version of the series, with fire power increased by 25% to 50 round from the original 40 rounds. Incorporate features of WS SPMRL series so that the operating cost and overall life cycle cost for both. Also incorporated is a feature originated in Type 90B, which is the adoption of rockets of different ranges, so PR50 has a wide range of 20 km to 40 km. The Chinese name for PR50 SPMRL is Sha Chen Bao (沙尘暴), meaning Sandstorm, and the system made its public debut in 2006 at the 6th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.[6]

SR-4

Development of the Type 81, featuring 40 tubes arranged into two pods. The range is 50 km.[7]

References

  1. ↑
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Type 81 / Type 89 / Type 90 122mm Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "BM-21 122-mm Multiple Rocket Launcher". globalsecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "CHINA DEVELOPS TYPE 90A 122 MM MULTIPLE SYSTEM, Archived". Jane's. 2009. Archived from the original on 15 Jan 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "NORINCO 122 mm (40-round) Type 90B multiple rocket system (China), Multiple rocket launchers". Jane's. 2009. Archived from the original on 13 Feb 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  6. ↑ PR50 SPMRL
  7. ↑ http://www.military-today.com/artillery/sr4.htm

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